Biopolymer structures and components including column and rail system

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to structures formed from a biopolymer. The present invention more particularly relates to biopolymer structures and components formed from fermentation solids and thermoactive materials, including a column and rail system and the component parts of this system.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 478,247 filed Jun. 13, 2003, 60 / 478,248 filed Jun. 13, 2003, and 60 / 478,601 filed Jun. 13, 2003.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to structures formed from a biopolymer. The present invention more particularly relates to biopolymer structures and components formed from fermentation solids and thermoactive materials, including a column and rail system and the component parts of this system. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] A variety of products may be formed from filled plastics. For example, plastics may be formed into lumber replacements, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,027; components of window and door assemblies, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,486,553; or siding for building structures, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,122,877. [0004] Fillers have been used in the plastic industry for almost 90 years. The rea...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, low cost fillers like wood flour can degrade some of the qualities of plastics and make it harder to process.

Talc and mica provide some increase in strength to plastic, but also add weight and decrease the life of the extruder due to abrasion.

Fiberglass adds considerable strength of the product, but at a substantial cost.

There are many disadvantages associated with existing plastics filled with plant material, such, such as wood or straw.

A principal problem associated with the extrusion and injection of such plastics is that the particle size of the plant material used in this process is very small and is primarily ground wood.

Otherwise, the viscosity of the mixture is too high to be extruded or molded efficiently.

Moreover, extrusion or injection processes are further limited by the ratio of filler materials, such as wood, to the plastic that can be used.

This puts undesirable constraints on the products that can be produced.

Ratios higher than this cause both processing problems and overall performance degradation in areas of moisture absorption, rot, decay, moisture stability, and so on.

Images